Compressing machine



'April 8,' 1930. L. E. ENES SLEY ET AL 1,753,238

' COMPRESISING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet l j! M25565: uC Min/67': r Z5 April 8, 1930. 1.. E. ENDSLEY ET AL COMPRESSING' MACHINEFiled June '9, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 =April 8, 1930. L. E. ENDSLEY El AL1,753,238

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed. June 9. 1922 e Sheets-Sheet s lllllll April3, 1930. L, E, ENDSLEY ET AL I 1,753,233

' COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1922' 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 8,1930. E. ENDSLEY ET AL 1,753,238

' COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 gala April 8;1930. I 1.. E. ENDSLEYIQTAL 1,753,238

COMPRES S ING- MACHINE Filed June 9. 1922 6 sheet -sheet 6 7 III/Z LOUISE. ENDSLIEY AND EDWARD V. CORFF, 01B CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'ORS TOPatented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics GRIP .NUT COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS oomrnnssms MACHINEApplication filed June 9, 1922. Serial n, 566,955.

Our invention particularly beyongs to that class of devices designed toaccurately and reliably compress certain materials or articles, eitheras a step in the process of manufacture or for the purpose of bringingthem to substantially uniform size or thickness.

As illustrated in the preferred form shown in the drawings, it isparticularly designed for use in the manufacture of lock nuts, in whichby means of pressure a partor all of the threads of the nut are causedto assume an abnormal form, by means of which the nut is adapted to morereliably engage the threads of a cooperating bolt without danger ofaccidental disengagement by reason of vibra tion, jar or use. In suchdevices it is found in actual practice thatthe-nuts, as they aredelivered to the press may vary slightly in thickness, varying from oneto perhaps five or more hundredths of an inch, depending upon the careand accuracy with which blanks are manufactured. 7

However, it is desirable that notwithstanding this difference in thethickness of the nut, the amount of deflection, whether by metal flowingupon itself or by a slight distortion otherwise, should be uniform. Thisis made desirable for the reason that inorder to secure the mostsatisfactory results, the change'i'n the thread of the nut from thenormal is so slight, being but a, fraction of the distance between thethreads, that any undue pressure caused by one blank being thicker thanthe other may cause the deflection in the thicker blank to be too great,in which difficulty would be found in threading the nut upon itscooperating bolt, while on the other hand, if the blank be too thin,'thedeflection might not be sufiicient to insure reliability of theengagement of the nut with its cooperating bolt as contemplated.

Such being the case in the preferred form illustrated, the processconsists in accurately and reliably placing the nuts upon an operablyrigid anvil in such position that the de fleeting effect upon each andevery nut, regardless of its thickness, will be substantial ly the samein every instance.

The object of our invention, therefore, is to insure the accuracy ofsuch a-process on the trating a modification one hand and on the otherhand to produce a machine that will accurately and reliably operate uponthe nut inv substantially the man- I ner set forth. In the drawings,wherein like reference characters. indicate like or corresponding parts,e I

Fig. l'is a side elevation of our improved machine,

Fig. 2 is a'central vertical section substantiallyon llineQ-Q of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; VFig. 4 is a transverse verticalv section substantially on line 4.-t ofFig. 1; y

Fig. 5 is a similar section substantially on line 5- 5 of Fig. 1. I Fig.6 is a horizontal section on line 6'6 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 7 is a'vertical section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 IS a transverse section on line 8-8 ofFig.6;-

Fig. 9 is a vertical'section on line 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a partial vertical section substantially on the line,indicated in Fig. 2 illus- Fig. 1 1 is a similar section showing anothermodification; and i Fig. 12 is a longitudinal central section ofv thelink operating the chain mechanism. In the drawings, 1 represents anysuitable base for supporting the machine, having suitablymounted andsecured thereto a supporting frame-work 2; 3 is-a transverse shaftdriven in any suitable 'manner, for illustration, by the driven fly andbelt wheel 4. Slidably mounted within the framework 2, so as to permit alongitudinal movement, is a frame 5, shown in Figs. 2 and 8. Near therear of the'frame 5 is a transverse shaft 6 provided with a rotatableroller 7. In front'of .theshaft 3 'is a cooperating transverse shaft 8provided with a roller 9. The shaft 3 has secured thereto a cam member10, which in the preferred form shown is formed with a section 11adapted to cooperate with the roller 9 on the shaft 8, and with twosections 12-12 adapted to cooperate with the two sections 1313 on roller7. These parts may be modified to a considerable extent to securesubstantially the same result.

As thus described, the rotation of the shaft 3 with its cam 10 willalternately drive the reciprocating member 5 forward and then backward.In the preferred construction as shown in Fig. 2 the rollers 7 and 9, aswell as the cam 10, are keyed or otherwise secured to their shafts so asto rotate therewith.

Secured to the reciprocating part 5 at its forward end in such mannerthat it may be detached or adjusted in relation thereto, is a wedgemember 14, which therefore reciprocates with the part 5. As shown inFigs. 3 and 4, we have secured satisfactory engagement of the wedgemember 1A with the reciprocating member 5 by forming a deep recess inthe forward end of the part 5, into which the extension 15 extends, asshown. Suitable recesses, as at 16, on the sides of this recess areprovided with cooperating slots 17 formed in the wedge member 1A, andwedge members 18 forced into the pocketed recesses thus formed, forcethe wedge member '14 backward firmly into engagement with thereciprocating member 5. In operation we have found it desirable toarrange for a certain range of adjustment in the longitudinal engagementof the Wedge member 14 with the movable block 5. As shown, this issecured by means of a filling member 19 positioned between the end ofthe wedge member 1A and the end of the recess into which the end 15extends.

Other means of adjustment may be employed if desired, but for thepurpose described the means illustrated will be suflicient in describingour device.

By this means it will be seen that the wedge member 1 1 is caused toreciprocate forward and backward and this movement is employed for thepurpose of securing the desired movement to secure the compressiveforce.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that thewedge member 14 is positioned in a strongly constructed part or yoke 20,within which is a cooperating movable block 21 normally maintained atthe upper limit of its movement by resilient members 22, which in thepresent instance are illustrated by coiled springs maintained inposition by the pins or studs 23. Suitable lining members 24 are placedon the top and bottom of the wedge member 1 1, the same being of anypreferred material that will serve to reduce friction and will Withstandthe necessary frictional effect. For convenience in as-' sembling thestuds 23 are carried by the block 21 with a clearance at the lower end.The lower portion of the springs 22 rest against the'yoke 20 and theupper ends bear against the block 21.

A compression block 25 is secured to the movable member 21, preferablyin any satisfactory manner so that it may be removed for renewal oradjusted as desired. Simple means for these purposes are illustrated inFig. 5, in which the block 25 is seated within a dovetail recess formedin the lower face of the part 21 with the wedge member 26 looking thepart in such position.

At a lower plane and in suitable vertical alignment with the parts justdescribed, the yoke 20 is formed for the reception of a suitable part tocooperate with those portions just described. As shown, the yoke isformed with an opening, in the bottom of which is placed a preferablywedge-shaped member 27, which is firmly supported as illustrated.Slidably mounted upon this is a cooperating member 28,which isreciprocated in coopera' tion with the movement of the wedge member 14.In the preferred form a face plate or member 29 is suitably mounted uponthe part 28 so as to move therewith, and in such man ner that it may bereadily removed and replaced when worn or for any other purpose.

The reciprocation of the part 28 may be secured by any suitable means,the movement being timed to suitably cooperate with the movement of thecooperating parts 1 1, 21 and 25, as described. In the form shown, (Fig.3) a suitable gear wheel 30 is splined or otherwise secured to the shaft3 so as to be driven thereby. A cooperating gear wheel 31, which in theform shown serves as an idler to engage with and drive a gear wheel 32.The gear wheel 32, Figs. 3 and 6, rotates a crank shaft 33 to which itis attached in any suitable manner, which crank shaft is pro vided withthe links 34, which are reciprocated thereby, which links at theirforward end carry the cross-head 35. The cross-head has loosely mountedtherein a rod 36, which at its forward end is extended to and issuitably engaged with the reciprocating wedge 28, as at 37. The rod 36has mounted upon it an adjustable collar 38, and extending from thecollar to the cross-head 35 is a suitable spring 39 or equivalent means,serving as an intermediate member in the form shown, to regulate andcushion the movement of the rod 36. Thus, as the cross-head is carriedforward by the rotation of the crank shaft as described, its contactwith the spring 39 will serve to compress the same and resiliently forcethe wedge member 28 longitudinally as far as it may be permitted by theposition of the contiguous parts cooperating therewith. As thecross-head is returned upon further rotation of the crank shaft, itengages the stop element 36 on the outer end of the rod 36 to effect apositive return of said rod to its former position.

Located in a suitable plane just above the parts last described is asuitable table or equivalent part 40, upon which is carried in thepreferred form a suitable carrying chain 41 of the sprocket or similartype. lhis chain is suitably mounted to produce a step by step motion,and is designed to carrythe nuts 42 forward one by one into positiontobe operated upon by the device as. described to secure the-compressiondesired.

In theform shown in the drawings and particularly illustrated in Fig.3and 6, the crank shaft 33 is extended beyond the oppoe site side of themachine and has secured thereto a crank or face plate 43, carrying awrist pin 44. A link 45 is extended to engage with a pawl 46, (Figs. 9and 3) arranged to cooperate with a ratchet wheel 47 mounted upon ashaft 48. Theshaft is extended toward the center of the machine and hasmountedupon it in the preferred form a pair of sprocket wheels 49 formedto suitably carry the sprocket chain 41. The sprocket chain from thesprocket wheel 49, in the form shown, is carried'downward beneath asuitable idler 50 and thus to the end of the machine, where cooperatingsprocket wheels '51 "are carried upon a shaft 52. It will thus be seenthat at each rotation of the crank shaft 33 and the reciprocation of thecooperating parts, the sprocket shaft 48 will be rotated with a step bystep movement, moving the chain 41 forward in the same way, carryingtherewith the .nuts'42 which are successively delivered to thecompressing means described.

In the preferred construction the link 45 driving the ratchet 47 isconstructed in such manner that if for any reason the sprocket chainshould become caught in such manner that it could not be moved'forward,it would not break the chain. This we accomplish by making the operationof the link 45 also resilient in something of't-hesame manner as isshown with the reciprocating rod 36. As shown in Fig. 12, this link canbe made of two parts housed in a casing 53. Within the housing issli'dably mounted a section. 54, which, for illustration, may beextended forward to engage the pawl 46. Upon this section a shoulder orcollar may be provided with the reduced portion 56. Upon this reducedportion a suitable spring 57 may be mounted. The rear portion of thelink, as 58 shown in said figure, is secured to said housing with theforwardly projecting part 59 provided with a socket in which the rearend 60 of the part 56 is seated. It will thus be seen that the push ofthe link is cushioned in such manner that any stoppage of the sprocketchain will not result in the breaking of the parts, but will be absorbedwithin the link. V

The operation of the device as thus described is substantially asfollows, referring forconvenience to Fig. 2 of the drawings:

In the step-by-step movement of the chain 41 described, the nuts 42 aresuccessively'carried forward and positioned beneath the compressingmechanism, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The parts are so timed thatthe initial movement forces the anvil blocl'r 2S forward until a nut"42-is reliably and opere atively maintained in position between theplate 29 and block 25 at a relative elevation dependent upon the varyingthicknesses of the several nuts. Beyond this point the anvil 28 does notmove, the nut sufiicing to prevent further movement and the spring 39yielding to the forward movement of the crosshead,as described. WVhenthe nut is thus suitably positioned, the compression wedge 14 is thendriven forward by the operation of the ma-. chine, forcing the block-21with its compression block 25 downward anexactly measured distance andthis action exactly measures the compression upon each successive nut asdescribed. As the machine continues its oper. ation, the compressionmember 14 is drawn; backward, allowing the block 21 tobe moved upward torelease the. nut, and the anvil wedge28 is drawn backward by engagementof the cross-head 35 with the stop element 36" on the end of the rod36.. 7 As thechain moves forward,the next successive nut is brought inposition and the same operation is re: peated, while the nut treatedisdischar-ged from the machine. It will thus be seen that the movementof the anvil member 28- is limited by the thicknesses of various nuts,while the compression is measured and the same in every instance.

If the machine is operated simply for lock nuts, as just described, thisis the preferred operation.

There may, however, be other articles that it. is desired to compress tobring them to a uniformthickness, in which case theanvil block may moveforward at each operation the same distance, and the compression memeber moving forward the same measured dis.- tance, the articles operatedupon will all be brought to the same uniform thickness.

In the form shown in Fig. 10, the forward movement of the anvil member28 may be limited by a suitable stop member 61 in con-. nection with afiller 62, if desired, for Yvary ing the movement of the part. In thist'or-n'i the part 28? will be permitted to always move forward the samemeasured distance, the co-. operatingparts being adjusted for that PUP-1pose, and the compressing member 14. with its-associated parts alwaysmoving the same measured distance. the articles. as heretoforedescribed, will all be compressed and brought to a uniform thickness. II

In the form shown in Fig. 11 the anvil block28 is stationary, and isplaced upon a part 63 having an inclined fall corresponding to the wedgemember 27. The bridge ment of thewedge member 14 beinguniform, I

the various articles will be brought to the same uniform thickness, asbefore described.

Referring to Fig. 4, 66 is a chute or trough into which the nuts arecarried by the movement of the chain after they are compressed and areconveyed away from the machine by gravity. V

F ig..7 illustrates one simple means for supporting the crosshead in amanner permitting an easy reciprocation of the same. As here shown, thecrosshead is provided withstud shafts 67, upon which are mountedantifriction rollers 68, which roll upon a support 69.

It will thus be seen that our improved machine is adapted, first toproduce the same amount of movement to secure uniform compression uponarticles irrespective of any variation in thickness of the articles,and, second,that it is adapted to bring articles of varying thickness tothe same or a uniform thickness.

1 Having thus described our invent-ion, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of our invention; hence we do not wish to be understood aslimiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

WVhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a C0111? pression block, acooperating wedge member, means for positively reciprocating said wedgemember, an anvil member adapted to cooperate with said block, means forvertically lifting the anvil member a predetermined distance, resilientmeans for operating the lifting member, and positive means forretracting said lifting member.

' 2; In a device of the kind described, a compression member, a frameand wedging means mounted therein for moving the compression member ameasured distance, spaced rollers mounted on said frame, and cam means'mounted between said rollers for reciprocating said frame, incombination with a cooperating anvil member, and automatic means fordelivering the article to be operated upon between said members with astep by step movement.

3. In a device of the kind described, a compression block, a cooperatingwedge member therefor, and means for positively reciprocating said wedgemember, in combination with a cooperating anvil member, means forvertically lifting the anvil member a distance measured by the thicknessof the article operated upon, resilient means for so operating thelifting member, positive means for retracting the lifting member, aconveyor arranged to deliver the articles between the block and theanvil, and means for operating the conveyor with a step by stepmovement.

4. In a device of the kind described, a compression member and means foroperating the same, comprising a driven cam member, areciprocatingmember engaging the cam member on opposite edges thereof,and actuating the compression member, a driven crank shaft, acooperating reciprocating anvil member actuated thereby, and automaticmeans for positioning the article to be operated upon between thecompression member and the anvil member.

5. In a device of the kind described, a compression member, mechanismfor operating the same comprising a driven cam member, a reciprocatingmember provided with cooperating rollers engaging the cam member onopposite edges thereof, for actuating the compression member, a drivencrank shaft, a reciprocating anvil member actuated by said crank shaft,and means for positioning the article to be operated upon between thecompression member and the anvil member.

6. In a device of the kind described, a compression member, and meansfor actuating the same, comprising a driven cam member, a reciprocatingmember provided with means for engaging the cam member on opposite edgesthereof for actuating the compression member, a driven crankshaft, areciprocatory anvil member actuated by said crank shaft, automatic meansfor positioning the article to be operated upon between the compressionmember and the anvil member, the reciproeating anvil member beingresiliently driven forward, but positively retracted to its normalposition.

7. In a device of the kind described, a compression member, a cam memberfor actuating said compression member, areciprocating member operatedin. both directions by said cam member and actuating the compressionmember, an anvil member cooperating with said compression member, and adriven crank shaft for reciprocating said anvil member.

8. In a device of the kind described, a compression member provided witha cooperating wedge member for actuating the same, a driven cam member,a reciprocating member engaging the cam member on opposite edgesthereof, and means for adjnstably connecting the wedge memberthereto,.in combination with a driven crank shaft actuating acooperating reciprocating anvil member, and means for positioning thearticle to be operated upon between the compression member and the anvilmember.

9. In a device of the kind described, an anvil member, a wedge memberadapted. to regulate the position of the anvil member, in combinationwith a driven crank shaft, a cross-head therefor, link membersconnecting the crank shaft with the crosshead, a rod loosely extendingthrough the crosshead, and engaging the wedge member, resilient meansable frame, and a cam disposed between and engaging said rollers formoving said frame.

In testimony whereof, we havehereunto signed our names. a

LOUIS E.'ENDSLEY. EDWARD V. CORFF.

mined distance, a reciprocating frame hold- I ing said wedging means andcarrying a pair of rollers, cam means disposed between said rollers foractuating said frame, a cooperating anvil member, means for raising the00- operating anvil member, and automatic means for delivering anarticle to be operated upon between said members.

11. In a device of the kind described, a compression'member, acooperating Wedge member adapted to actuate said compression member, acam member, a reciprocating member engaged by the cam member, means foradjustably connecting the wedge and reciprocating member, an anvilmember cooperat- I,

ing with said compression member, and a crank shaft for reciprocatingsaid anvil member.

12. In a device of the kind described, an anvil member, a wedge membermovable to regulate the position of the anvil member, a driven crankshaft, a cross-head, link members connecting said crank shaft andcross-head,and a rod extending through the cross-head and engaging thewedge member for actuating the same.

18. A machine of the character described including a fixed frame,opposed compression members mounted therein, one of which is normallyretained in a given position, means for positioning an article on theother of said members, means for moving the member containing thearticle to bring the article into contact with the other member, themovement of the member being controlled by the thickness of the article,a reciprocating frame .mounted in said fixed frame and carrying wedgingmeans for operating the normally,

retained member to compress the article between the two members, rollersmounted in said reciprocating frame, and cam means between said rollersfor moving said frame.

14. A machine of the character described including a fixed frame,opposed compression members mounted therein, one of which is normallyretained in a given position, means for positioning an article on theother of said members, means for moving the member containing thearticle to bring the article into contact with the other member, themovement of the member being controlled by the thickness of the article,a movable frame mounted in said fixed frame and carrying re ciprocatingwedge means for operating the normally retained member a measureddistance to compress the article between the two members, roller meansmounted in said mov-

